Shock-damping verge plate



Filed July so, 1947' ww 7 2% w 4 J/ g a;

w 5 3 5 1 4 W 2 m 1 a \.2 2 m2 Patented June 28, 1949 snocx-mm'mc vnncnPLATE Kenneth Howie, Norrlstown, Pa., assignor to Wildman Mtg. (10.,Norrlstown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 30,1947, Serial No. 764,853

14 Claim.

This invention relates to a verge plate structure for full-fashionedhosiery machines, and has for its primary object the provision of ashock-cushioning and damping verge plate for such a machine.

In such machines, as shown for example in my United States Patents Nos.1,958,823 and 1,982,991, dated May and December 4, 1934,.

the jack sinkers which form the loops of yarn between the needles aredriven forward against the striking edge of the verge plate at a highrate of speed by the movement of the slur cock. Where rigid metal vergeplates are employed the blow of impact is so sharp that sinker vibrationis engendered, and sinker breakage frequently occurs. When the impactedge of the verge plate is made light or springy to cushion the blow ofthe sinkers the operation becomes objectionably noisy. When non-metallicverge plates; for example, plates of cured fibre, or of fibrous phenoliccondensation products such as Bakelite, are employed the butts of thesinkers cut into the front or impact edge of the verge plate veryquickly and the plates have to be renewed at frequent intervals.

The present invention has for its objects severally and'interdependentlythe provision of an improved form of verge plate obviating theabove-noted objections; the provision of a unitary verge plate having aspringy striking edge integral with the main body of the plate andhaving shock-damping means to damp out the vibrations imparted theretoby the sinkers; the provision of an integral verge plate havingcushioning and shock-damping means and adapted especially to reducesinker breakage without producing objectionable noise in the case of ametallic type plate, and especially to reduce the cutting thereof by thesinkers in the case of a nonmetallic type plate.

With the foregoing and other objects in mind, the invention resides inthe provision of a verge plate having a springily-supported strikingedge effectively integral with its body and provided with rubber-likeshock-damping means arranged to absorb the vibrations incident to theblows of the sinkers thereagainst, and in the novel features ofconstruction and arrangement of parts contributing to the realization ofthe objects of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings of illustrative embodiments of theinvention:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic vertical section through the sinker-head andjack-head portions of a full-fashioned knitting machine having one formof the new verge plate applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the verge plate thereof.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of said plate taken on the line 33 in Fig. 2looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figs. 4 and 5 are similar cross-sections of modified forms of the vergeplate.

As is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, in the usual full-fashionedknitting machine the sinkers l0 are slidably supported in the sinkerhead, between a grooved sinker bed II and a grooved sinker cover I2.Each jack sinker II] is provided with a reenforced butt I3 having astriker surface H at its forward portion. When the sinker In is thrownforward in the sinker head by the movement imparted to the jack i=5 bythe slur cock IS, the surface M of its butt l3 strikes against thestriking edge of the verge plate 20 which arrests the forward movementof the sinker.

In accordance with the present invention, the verge plate 20 in the formshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is of steel or brass construction and ispreferably milled from a strip of the metal about fifteen andone-quarter inches long, an inch wide and one-fourth inch thick, when itis to be used in a fine guage stocking machine having a relatively thicksinker cover l2, such as that shown in the above-mentioned patents.

This verge plate 20, as shown in Fig. 2, is provided with spacedcounter-bored bolt holes 2| providing for its securement to the sinkercover I! as by cap screws 22, Fig. 1. When the cover I2 is relativelythick the striking edge 23 of the verge plate 20 is depressed relativeto the main body or mounting portion of the plate, to abut the sinkersat as low a level as possible.

In accordance with the present invention, in the form shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3, the underside of the verge plate 20 is provided with alongitudinal groove 24 which thins that portion of the plate between itsmounting portion and its striking edge to a thickness of about .032 ofan inch to .045 of an inch and provides a relatively thin arched oroffset web 25, from which the striking portion of the plate depends. Theweb 25 thus provides springy support for the striking edge 23 andcushions the blows of the sinker butts thereagainst. vIn addition thestriking portion 23 is backed up by a body of vibrationdamping material26. This material 26 is preferably in the form of a strip-like insert ofoil and grease-resistant synthetic rubber-like material such as thatpresently marketed under the As is shown in Figs. 1 and 3,'the..rubber-.-.l ike v insert 26 is held in place between the vergeplate and the sinker cover l2, *whenthe verge plate is mounted. Hence noparticular-mode ried be adopted for mounting the damping strip 26 in thegroove 24. or special cement or otherwise, if desired.

4 the striker face 23b throughout all or a greater portion ofethe heightof the plate than in the other illustrative forms, to aid in minimizingthe cutting of the sinker butts into that face. The arched or offset webb which resiliently supports the overhanging portion 23b in cantileverfashion, inthis case is usually somewhat thicker than that r'ernployedin-"t'he metal plate. Thicknesses of .0'32of an inch to .060 of an inchare ,satisf-actory. The rubber-like insert 25b in this nstancecooperates with the web 25b in support- ;inggthe'strikereedgeresiliently, dainps the blows of the sinkers against it and reduces therate at whichthe'-edge".23lr is-cut into by the sinker butts. j'Ihe-invention sfnot limited to the illustrative forms 'disclosedtoexemplify the same.

It may be attached=withe=shellac In accordance with the usual practicethe countersunk holes 2| are made slightly larger in diameter than the:cap screws 22-, to: provide for limited adjustment :an'd alignment ofwthe verge plate: relative to' theassociated parts of' the machine, andfor moving upxdftheplate when theface 23 is refinishedea'fter it aisworn. The striker edges 23 are preferably hardened,"to reduce the wearthereof. a

In the modified -"r-orm-"of Fig.='a4,s.in whichith-e corresponding partsare -indicated "by the same reference numerals coupled with'the letteria, the construction is generally "the same except that the groove24a,'milledlongitudinally in the underside-of the"plate1:20a,:fis ofcircular cross; section at both its sides. I

This results in a swebssection 'i25a whi'chzin effect is shorter thanthe:webt section' ZMFig. "3, and which is therefore less =resilientt=thanStile form of Fig. 3-if1thew'eb is .ofz' -equal1thickness. The form ofFig.3. iscpresentlytpreferred as "with this form theweb-mayrbemade'somewhat thicker than the form of Fig. 4, therebyavoiding crack ing and warping'rand facilitating amanutacture.

The thickness of'theweb'r2iis'preferably' varied in different plates'topsuit EdifiEI'BIltTOOIldlfiOIIS' in the machine 'due= to the size ofyarn" being run, the width of the slots-in the-sinkerilheads, etc; Somemachines run satisfactorily-widthiithis' part of the verge plate quite."heavy; whereassother machineswhich 'seem'to be quite similar,:-requirea much thinner verge :plate.- This is usually determined bytheasinkerrbreakage. 'If the "machine' is breaking too'manyssinkers;this maybe obviated by changing "to "a "thinner =verge' 1 plate. In theform of 'Fig. 4,1asin 'Fig. =3,tthe"'rubberlike vibration damping insert26a is preferably shaped to con-form' to thBE'gI OOVB "14:12 andbearagainst the web 250i toiabsorb the vibrations imparted by the 'rblows of:the'sinkers against the striker edge 23a.

Fig. '5 illustrates the applicationof'thez'invention to a non=metallic"verge "plate r2011. -Such non-metallic vergeplate'may be formed ofwanysuitable material for example, fibre, a phenolic oondensation'product;or=-a fibrous phenolic con =densation product, as cured laminated-fabric impregnated with Bakelite'or the like. Here thecorresponding'parts are indicatedby'the same reference numerals coupledwith" the"-letterb. In general withthese non metallic 'materials it isdesirable to keep the overhanging portion comprising thestrikerface'flb'in line with the main body of the plate, as 'thematerial isusually-of insufficient strength to "permitextension or theoverhanging portionther'ebelowas in"Figs.-"3 and 4. In addition; itisusually 'desirable to =exterid 1. A verge plate comprising alongitudinallyextending body portion having a longitudinal striking edgeof hard material and having a longitudinally-extending"groovebehind itsstriking edge imparting springiness to said striking edge, anda-rubber-like vibration damping insert positioned in said groove. 7

2. A verge plate comprising a longitudina-lly extending" body portionhaving a longitudinal striking edge supported therefrom by a relativelythin arched web-like portion, said body portion and striking edge'beingformed oi hard material,'and a relatively soft rubber-like vibrationclampingelernentiloearing against said 'weblike portion.

3. A verge plate comprising a longitudinally extending body portionhaving a longitudinal striking edge supported therefrom by a relativelythin offset web-likeportiomsaid body portion'and strikingedge beingformed of hard material; and a relatively soft rubberdike vibrationdamping element within-andsubstantially filling the off set of andbearing against said web-like portion.

'4. A-verge plate comprising a longitudinallyextending body portion"having a longitudinal strike receivingportion and a relatively thinoffset supportin'g: web by which said strike-receiving portion issupported in overhanging relation from'said bodyportion, saidbodyportionand striking edge being formed of hard material, and arelatively soft rubber-like'vibration damping insert back' of saidstrike-receiving portion.

5.-A verge plate for full-fashioned knitting machines and-the like,comprising a unitary body provided with an integral strike-receivingportion supported therefrom in overhanging-fashion by a thinned sectionthereof, said body portion and striking edge beingformed of hardmaterial, and having a shock-damping insert of-relativelysoftrubber-like material-backing up said strike-receiving portion.

.6. A verge plate for a sinker type knitting machine, comprising arelatively rigid mounting portion, said plate having a striker portionof hardmaterialto receive the blows of. the sinkers, means forcushioning said blows comprising a relatively thin ofiset web portionsupporting said striker portion from said mounting, portion, and meansfor damping the vibrations imparted by the sinker blows comprising arelatively soft. rubber-like insert. bearing against said web-like.por-e tion.

7. A vergeplate of relatively hard material having its striking'edgesupported by a relatively thin springy'web and'having a relatively softrubber-like vibration damping insert back of its striking edge.

-' "'8; "A xverge' plate "of relatively *hard material having aresilient web-like portion supporting its striking edge and defining alongitudinally-extending groove therebehind, and a relatively softrubber-like vibration damping insert in said groove.

9. A quieted metal verge plate comprising a longitudinally-extendingmetal bar having a longitudinally extending groove therein between itsstriking edge portion and its mounting portion and which provides,flexibility in its striking edge portion, and a rubber-like vibrationdamping insert in said groove.

10. A non-metallic verge plate comprising a longitudinally-extending barof machineable nonmetallic material having a longitudinallyextendinggroove therein between its striking edge portion and its body portionand which provides flexibility in said striking edge portion, saidstriking edge portion being backed up by a rubber-like shock dampingbody positioned in said groove.

11. A verge plate for sinker type knitting machines, having a unitarybody provided with an integral hard, relatively springy impact portionand with shock-damping means in backing up contact therewith to damp outthe vibrations imparted to said impact portion by the impact of thesinkers.

12. A verge plate for sinker type knitting machines having an integralhard, overhanging impact portion supported from the main body of theplate in cantilever fashion by a thinned section thereof and having aninsert of oil-resistant rubber-like material underlying the said 6thinned section and backing up said overhanging portion.

13. A metallic verge plat-e for sinker type knitting machines having anintegral overhanging impact edge supported from the main body of theplate in cantilever fashion by a thinned section thereof, and having anoil-resistant rubberlike insert backing up said cantilever-supportedimpact edge and serving to deaden the noise of impact of the sinkersthereagainst.

14. A non-metallic verge plate having an integral overhanging impactportion supported from the main body of the plate in cantilever fashionby a thinned section thereof and having an oil-resistant rubber-likeinsert backing up the cantilever-supported edge and serving to cushionthe impact of the sinkers thereagainst and reduce the rapidity withwhich they cut into said impact portion.

KENNETH HOWIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,622,976 Schulz May 29, 19272,080,353 Bay et a1. May 11, 1937 2,162,660 Weisbecker June 13, 19392,227,403 Weisbecker Dec. 31, 1940 2,384,451 Brumbach Sept. 11, 19452,426,803 Weisbecker Sept. 2, 1947

